蔑む・貶む|さげすむsagesumu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
蔑む蔑む is the most common written form of this word and the recommended default for beginners; it uses kanji followed by kana.
貶む貶む is a rarely used kanji-kana variant of the same word, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally need not choose it in their own writing.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto scorn; to despise; to hold in contempt; to look down on; to disdain
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 蔑む（さげすむ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 蔑みます（さげすみます） |
| Negative (nai) | 蔑まない（さげすまない） |
| polite (masen) | 蔑みません（さげすみません） |
| classical zu / nu | 蔑まず・蔑まぬ（さげすまず・さげすまぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 蔑んだ（さげすんだ） |
| polite (mashita) | 蔑みました（さげすみました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 蔑まなかった（さげすまなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 蔑みませんでした（さげすみませんでした） |
| Te form | 蔑んで（さげすんで） |
| Potential | 蔑める（さげすめる） |
| Passive | 蔑まれる（さげすまれる） |
| Causative | 蔑ませる（さげすませる） |
| Causative passive | 蔑ませられる・蔑まされる（さげすませられる・さげすまされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 蔑めば（さげすめば） |
| tara | 蔑んだら（さげすんだら） |
| Volitional | 蔑もう（さげすもう） |
| polite (mashou) | 蔑みましょう（さげすみましょう） |
| Imperative | 蔑め（さげすめ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralEveryday word for contempt or looking down on someone; as a Sino-Japanese term it is common in daily use, while native 「蔑む」 has a more literary feel.
- Synonym蔑視べっしWrittenWritten/formal term for contempt or discrimination; applies to groups as well as individuals, as in 「女性蔑視」.
- Synonym見下すみくだすNeutralColloquial and frequent; despising someone while regarding yourself as a cut above them.
- Synonym侮蔑ぶべつWrittenWritten term for insulting contempt; stronger than 「軽蔑」, with a heavier note of disdain.
- Synonym侮るあなどるNeutralMeans taking an opponent lightly, stressing underestimation; often in the negative, as in 「侮れない」.
- Synonym軽視けいしNeutralNot valuing or taking lightly; applies to things as well as people, as in 「安全を軽視する」 and 「部下を軽視する」.
- Synonym軽侮けいぶWrittenWritten/formal and very rarely used; slighting someone with disdain or insolence.
- Synonym卑しむいやしむWrittenWritten and dated; to regard something as base or lowly and despise it.
- Synonym卑しめるいやしめるWrittenWritten term for demeaning or insulting someone; it can also describe lowering one's own standing.
- Synonym蔑するなみするWrittenWritten, archaic word for disregarding or not taking something seriously; the stress is on ignoring.
- Related見くびるみくびるNeutralColloquial; to underestimate another person's ability, with the nuance of a misjudgment.
- Antonym褒めるほめるNeutralAntonym: praising or complimenting, the opposite of looking down on someone.
- Antonym称えるたたえるNeutralAntonym: extolling or praising in a solemn, written register; the opposite of despising.
In everyday speech, 「軽蔑する」 and 「見下す」 are the usual choices. Use 「侮る」 or 「見くびる」 for underestimating an opponent, and 「蔑視」 for discrimination against a group. 「蔑む」 itself leans toward written, descriptive prose.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
